Adjustable cable assembly

ABSTRACT

A motion transmitting cable assembly has a cap member mounted rotatably on one end of the cable sheath. The cap has an external threaded portion and the cable core member passes movably through the cap. A retaining plug having internal threads snaps into a stationary wall and receives the threaded portion of the cap member. Rotating the cap member relative to the retaining plug adjusts the position of the end of the core member.

nited States Patent [151 3,645,150

Crossland 51 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE CABLE ASSEMBLY 2,424,7577/1947 Klumpp ..74/50l P [72] Inventor: Francis D. Crossland ford,England 3,443,452 5/ 1969 Shontz ..74/502 [73] Assignee: Ford MotorCompany, Dearborn, Mich. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed,July 27 1970 443,123 2/1936 Great Britain ..74/501 [21] Appl. No.:58,510 Primary Examiner-Milton Kaufman AttorneyJohn R. Faulkner andGlenn Sv Arendsen [52] US. Cl ..74/50l P [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl.

5s FieldofSearch ..74/s01,502, 501 P A motion transmitting cableassembly has a p member mounted rotatably on one end of the cablesheath. The cap [56] References Cited has an external threaded portionand the cable core member passes movably through the cap. A retainingplug having inter- UNITED STATES PATENTS nal threads snaps into astationary wall and receives the threaded portion of the cap member.Rotating the cap member relative to the retaining plug adjusts theposition of the end of the core member.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures III/W ADJUSTABLE CABLE ASSEMBLY SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION Remote control cable assemblies are being used inincreasing numbers as automotive accelerator pedal linkages. Such cableassemblies typically include an external sheath surrounding a relativelymovable core member. The ends of the sheath usually are fixed and oneend of the core is connected to a control member while the other end isconnected to the element that is to be controlled. Adjustments in therest positions of the controlled element typically had to be made byloosening a clamp holding one end of the sheath, manually moving thatend into a new position and retightening the clamp. Such adjustments arelaborious and tend to be relatively inaccurate since retightening isnecessary before the new position can be evaluated.

This invention provides an adjustable remote control cable assembly thatcan be adjusted rapidly and accurately. The cable assembly includes acable having an external sheath surrounding a relatively movable coremember. A cap member located at one end of the sheath has a threadedexterior portion and an interior passage through which the core memberextends. One end of the cap member preferably is cup shaped to receivethe end of the sheath. A plug capable of being inserted into a hole in astationary plate has a threaded internal bore that threadably engagesthe threaded exterior portion of the cap member. The plug is retained inthe wall against rotational and axial movement. Rotating the cap memberrelative to the sheath and the plug acts through the screw threads toadjust the axial position of the end of the sheath relative to thestationary plug which thereby adjusts the position of the end of thecore.

The screw threads preferably are self-locking, which can be achievedreadily by making both the cap and plug out of a relatively hard butdeformable polymeric material. A slight interference fit then isdesigned into the screw threads so that installation of the cap into theplug resiliently deforms the threads of at least one member. Excellentself-locking is achieved by making the cap out of a harder polymericmaterial than the plug and incompletely forming the screw threads in theplug so that assembly of the cap and the plug tends to complete threadformation.

A plug having a noncircular exterior surface that fits into a similarlyshaped hole in the stationary wall prevents rotational movement of theplug during adjustment. A flange on one end of the plug cooperates withresilient barbs permitting plug installation into the stationary wallbut springing outward to engage the opposite side of the wall to preventaxial movement of the plug.

Cables of the invention usually are assembled by threadably engaging theplug and cap member before end fittings are attached to the core member.The cable assemblies are installed by snapping the plug into itsappropriate hole and then rotating the cap member to adjust the core toits desired position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned view ofone end of the cable showing the relative positions of the cable sheath,cable core, cap and plug.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged views of the plug showing the resilient barbsand square ridge that prevent axial and rotational plug movement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, a remote control cableassembly of the push-pull type has a sheath 1 surrounding a relativelymovable core 3. A cap member 7 has a cup portion 5 and a barrel portion11. The cup portion surrounds one end of the sheath and the barrelportion has external screw threads fonned thereon. Core member 3 extendsthrough an internal passage 13 in the barrel portion and is connected toa fitting 8 that attaches the core member to a throttle blade forexample. A plastic sleeve 4 can be used to stiffen the end of coremember 3 if desired.

A plug 19 has a large flange 21 on one end of a projection 17.Projection 17 has a slightly enlarged square ridge 22 located againstflange 21. At least two resilient barbs 23 are located on projection 17and angle acutely back toward flange 21. An enlarged shoulder 27 isformed on the exterior of projection 17 further outward of barbs 23.

Projection 17 of plug 19 is pressed into a square aperture in astationary plate 26 until flange 19 contacts the plate. The aperturecorresponds in size and shape to ridge 22. Barbs 23 deflect as the plugpasses through the aperture but then spring back to bear against theinner surface of the plate to prevent axial movement of the plug.Fitting 8 then is attached to the throttle blade and cap member 7 isthreaded into plug 19 an appropriate distance, thereby adjusting thelocation of the fitting.

The exterior of cup portion 5 can have a hexagonal shape so it can beengaged by a wrench. A compressive spring 25 can be positioned betweenshoulder 27 and a shoulder 29 formed on fitting 8. This spring locationis particularly useful for vehicle throttle applications since cablebreakage is unlikely to impair the throttle closing ability of thespring. Sleeve 4 preferably extends at least a short distance intopassage 13 to prevent kinking of the core member.

Polyarnides or any of the common plastics can be used to make cap member7, plug 19 and sleeve 4. Polyamides are preferred since such materialsare available in different hardnesses so that it is relatively easy toobtain caps that are harder than the plugs.

Cables assemblies intended for use as automotive throttle linkages aresupplied to the vehicle assembly line with cap member 7 screwed into theplug member 19 the theoretically correct distance. 0n the assembly line,projection 17 of the plug is pressed through a square hole in the plateuntil flange 21 contacts one side of the plate and barbs 23 contact theother side as described above. The location of the square ridge in thesquare aperture prevents rotation of the fastener during any manualrotation of the cap member that is necessary to adjust the position offitting 8.

Thus the invention provides a remote control cable assembly capable ofready adjustments. The cable assembly is particularly useful as athrottle linkage for automotive vehicles but can be used in otherapplications with equal advantage.

Iclaim:

1. An adjustable cable assembly comprising a cable having an externalsheath surrounding a relatively movable core member,

a cap member located at one end of said sheath, said cap member having acup-shaped portion receiving rotatably one end of said sheath, said capmember having a threaded exterior portion and an internal passage, saidcore member extending movably through the internal passage of the capmember, and

plug means for insertion in a hole in a stationary wall, said plug meansincluding means to retain said plug means in said wall against bothrotational and axial movement after insertion therein, said plug meanshaving a threaded internal bore that threadably engages the threadedexterior portion of said cap member, said cap member being rotatablerelative to said cable and said plug means so rotation of said capinember adjusts the position of the end of the core member.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1 comprising a sleeve surrounding the endportion of the core member, said sleeve extending at least partiallyinto the internal passage of the cap member.

3. The cable assembly of claim 2 comprising a fitting means attached tothe end of the core member and a compressive spring mounted between saidfitting and said plug means, said spring urging said fitting means to anextended position away from said plug means.

4. The cable assembly of claim 1 comprising a fitting means attached tothe end of the core member and a compressive spring mounted between saidfitting and said plug means, said spring urging said fitting means to anextended position away from said plug means.

5. The cable assembly of claim 1 in which the cap member is made of aharder material than the plug means and the screw threads on the capmember have an interference fit with the screw threads of the plugmeans.

1. An adjustable cable assembly comprising a cable having an externalsheath surrounding a relatively movable core member, a cap memberlocated at one end of said sheath, said cap member having a cup-shapedportion receiving rotatably one end of said sheath, said cap memberhaving a threaded exterior portion and an internal passage, said coremember extending movably through the internal passage of the cap member,and plug means for insertion in a hole in a stationary wall, said plugmeans including means to retain said plug means in said wall againstboth rotational and axial movement after insertion therein, said plugmeans having a threaded inteRnal bore that threadably engages thethreaded exterior portion of said cap member, said cap member beingrotatable relative to said cable and said plug means so rotation of saidcap member adjusts the position of the end of the core member.
 2. Thecable assembly of claim 1 comprising a sleeve surrounding the endportion of the core member, said sleeve extending at least partiallyinto the internal passage of the cap member.
 3. The cable assembly ofclaim 2 comprising a fitting means attached to the end of the coremember and a compressive spring mounted between said fitting and saidplug means, said spring urging said fitting means to an extendedposition away from said plug means.
 4. The cable assembly of claim 1comprising a fitting means attached to the end of the core member and acompressive spring mounted between said fitting and said plug means,said spring urging said fitting means to an extended position away fromsaid plug means.
 5. The cable assembly of claim 1 in which the capmember is made of a harder material than the plug means and the screwthreads on the cap member have an interference fit with the screwthreads of the plug means.